<p>CSIHSIS-- “something like Casablanca”??? LOL there is NOTHING quite like Casablanca. Set aside your preconceived notions and enjoy a good movie in black and white. It’s sort of like Shakespeare–you will recognize quotations you didn’t know were from that source. “I am shocked…SHOCKED!” :)</p>
<p>LOL. There were some boys movies mentioned! One my son watched when he was in a class on nuclear politics was Dr. Strangelove. I think one should watch at least one James Bond movie, because even if htey aren’t good they are iconic. The Right Stuff and Apollo 13 are certainly among the iconic movies about the space program.</p>
<p>And iconic older sci fi:
Star Wars
Close Encounters
Blade Runner
The Matrix
Alien
Solaris (the Russian one, but dh hated it)
and my sentimental favorite Serenity (which I’m not sure makes much sense if you haven’t seen Firefly - the tv show!)</p>
<p>RE: casablanca</p>
<p>None of us are old enough to have grown up when Casablanca was a new movie. Whether or not you like it somewhat depends on whether you like movies from the Golden Age, where movie stars were stars. Movies were more glamorous then, whereas now, movies go for grimy realism. It’s a matter of preference. </p>
<p>Strangely, I liked older movies better when I was younger.</p>
<p>Okay mommusic, you just made me move Casablanca up my watch list, passing about 20 other movies. I was trying to watch Papillon yesterday and I ended up watching last Friday’s episode of Grimm instead.</p>
<p>Yes, mathmom…Apollo13 and The Right Stuff. Absolutely iconic. My older son has seen Apollo13 innumerable times. I still tear up when I see the launch!</p>
<p>My younger son is a stage actor and likes to watch movies for their acting. He has taught me to be more discerning. We watched Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and he could not believe how bad Liz Taylor was! Also, when watching Casablanca with him, I couldn’t help agreeing that Bogart’s acting was really kind of wooden.</p>
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<p>Is his acting wooden, or was he playing a character whose emotions were worn down by life?</p>
<p>
Actually, my son has seen (with or without me) most of the films mentioned
that I’d also want to see. And has enjoyed most of them. He’s up on his digital media too – but can certainly appreciate a good film.</p>
<p>We don’t always see eye-to-eye on the older films (e.g. - I love Marshall Brickman’s Simon – he was nonplussed), but he and I do see eye-to-eye on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.</p>
<p>I think there are at least three different lists here: coming-of-age moves, great movies that we like, and “cultural touchstones.” It’s the last that interests me: what movies should you see because it’s essential for understanding either a particular period, or our culture in general? I noticed a few people mentioned “Mean Girls,” and I think it really is a cultural touchstone for a generation (of girls, in particular), in the same way that “Animal House” might be for a prior generation.</p>
<p>And this is why you need to see certain classic movies, even if you don’t like them that much–you’ll miss too many other cultural references if you aren’t familiar with them. I think this includes Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, Snow White, etc.</p>
<p>Wow - still can’t get over the comment that these movies are “too old and outdated” and “girl’s movies”. Guess I need to tell my 15-year old son, who has watched many of these and has many more on the DVR and queued up in NetFlix. Oh, and he asked me to get a HuluPlus subscription because they’ve added the Criterion Collection of old movies, and they have more offerings from the 20s, 30s, and 40s than NetFlix. Just looked at his Netflix queue - it includes Donnie Darko, Lars and the Real Girl, The Seven Year Itch, Apocalypse now, The Odd Couple, Monkey Business, Memento, and Fatal Attraction. Good mix of new and old, and some that I guess are “girl’s movies”. And for Christmas he’s asked for the original Manchurian Candidate.</p>
<p>Blanket statements about “this generation won’t watch …” discredit those members of said generation who are willing to look outside what their peers are watching. I’m thankful that my son has access to so much streaming content - much better than when we had to wait forever for a movie we liked to be on TV!</p>
<p>I think Clueless influenced Mean Girls. Some notable quotes.</p>
<p>Tai: Cher, you’re a virgin?
Cher: You say that like it’s a bad thing.</p>
<p>As if. Whatever.</p>
<p>I made my kids watch all the movie musicals, which they hated at the time, but now they are glad they know them.</p>
<p>My favorite drama - Sunset Boulevard. William Holden is fabulous! Also, Billy Wilder’s direction is perfect.</p>
<p>Comedy - Particularly for aspiring attorneys, The Fortune Cookie. Walter Mathau as Whiplash Willie Gingrich is priceless. Also a Billy Wilder movie.</p>
<p>And to whomever listed Play it Again, Sam somewhere up above - I agree. Tony Roberts and his phone numbers schtick would no longer exist with cell phones.</p>
<p>Coming of age. Summer of 42; Harold & Maude; Johnny Got His Gun</p>
<p>I love Mean Girls and my D. does also. I do not think that either of the males in our family ever watched it or had any desire to attempt.</p>
<p>And Reefer Madness</p>
<p>Among my kids, “what’s up doc” was a huge hit. The original In-Laws. Steve Martin in Roxanne. To Kill a Mockingbird. 12 angry men (I was amazed by how much my average-intellect (just like me! 
kids loved it.</p>
<p>OFFICE SPACE for kids who think they want to be engineers lol.</p>
<p>Some of my favorites: Invictus, “V” For Vendetta, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Great Debaters, Glory, Amazing Grace, The Kite Runner, The Help, Dead Poets Society, Pearl Harbor, The Social Network, Troy, The Green Mile, P.S. I Love You, Life is Beautiful, The Grey, 127 Hours, Legends of the Fall, Dances With Wolves, The Notebook, Anna Kerenina.</p>
<p>I do love these lists. One that I just re-watched yesterday that I haven’t seen mentioned is Lars and the Real Girl.</p>
<p>Maybe not in the “iconic” category, but sweet and lots of lessons about acceptance and community. One of my faves. Added bonus for the younger set, it stars Ryan Gosling…</p>
<p>In addition to all those already mentioned, I like: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (based off of a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald) Cinderella Man, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Anonymous, Hotel Rwanda, City Slickers, Patch Adams, and just for fun…Dracula: Dead and Loving It. :)</p>
<p>hhscrt and I have similar tastes in movies!</p>